Official Pagan Thread!

[CoopCrazy]

we may just have to start a book swap around here..MAybe even add our own notes to books then share with eachother..

 

[deb1]

Quote:
I agree with the Author on thnis.. I feel that we are all bron witht he capacity for good and evil .. I have never been able to beleive that I was born flawed or full of sin.. How can something made perfect be flawed at the same time..

that is an interesting observation. It also seems logical to me. Most of the world's religions advocate some form of the golden rule. If we were all as deeply flawed as some believe then how could people, with different cultures and believes all come up with versions of the same rule.

 

[CoopCrazy]

Deb1 I just have to say .. I think you are just an awesome soul.. I love that you ask questions....

Something else I feel you are going to start seeing while comparing beleifs is the fact that ALL beleifs overlap... I wont eleborate on my feelings but can't wait for you to find moer of the synchronicities in beliefs..

 

[deb1]

Quote:
Thank you.

I can't tell you how amazed I am at my hubby. He could be freaking out at this point but he simply accepts that I am looking into a religion that is different then his. A lot of people wouldn't be as open. He is making me very happy now.

This is something that the book that I referenced mentioned but I agree with. I am going to express this badly though. Different religions and faith, to me, focus on different portions of the same Deity. Its like walking into a remodeled, older home. Certain rooms might have been purposely decorated to honor the time period when the house was originally built. Someone examining the 18th century mantel might be amazed at the attention to an earlier time period that the decorators showed, while a person who examined the modern kitchen might notice how up to date all the appliances were. Both people would have different views of the house and its owners but if neither one had seen the entire house, their views wouldn't be right or wrong, just incomplete.

Maybe it isn't the best analogy. LOL

 

[CoopCrazy]

Quote:
Thank you.

I can't tell you how amazed I am at my hubby. He could be freaking out at this point but he simply accepts that I am looking into a religion that is different then his. A lot of people wouldn't be as open. He is making me very happy now.

This is something that the book that I referenced mentioned but I agree with. I am going to express this badly though. Different religions and faith, to me, focus on different portions of the same Deity. Its like walking into a remodeled, older home. Certain rooms might have been purposely decorated to honor the time period when the house was originally built. Someone examining the 18th century mantel might be amazed at the attention to an earlier time period that the decorators showed, while a person who examined the modern kitchen might notice how up to date all the appliances were. Both people would have different views of the house and its owners but if neither one had seen the entire house, their views wouldn't be right or wrong, just incomplete.

Maybe it isn't the best analogy. LOL

I LOVE this anology... Wow very profound.. ( you gave me chills) And as Neil Donald Walsh would say " Truth comes with Goosebumps"

 

[Kansaseq]

Deb1, really cool analogy!

 

[BarkerChickens]

Quote:
I absolutely agree with that statement ("People are born with all the potential skills they need to make moral and ethical judgments."). The influences in someone's life can have positive and negative effects. In my opinion (and mental illness aside), a child must be taught that other people's feelings don't matter or that complete selfishness is acceptable to do some of the things that people do nowadays. I have always thought that people inherently know what is right (in these respects) and learn the negative (to socially accept the wrong behavior). I never though of it as a "pagan" belief though.

Also, I am NOT a psychologist, behaviorist, etc., so really my thoughts and opinions are kinda useless.

 

[BarkerChickens]

Quote:
Thank you.

I can't tell you how amazed I am at my hubby. He could be freaking out at this point but he simply accepts that I am looking into a religion that is different then his. A lot of people wouldn't be as open. He is making me very happy now.

This is something that the book that I referenced mentioned but I agree with. I am going to express this badly though. Different religions and faith, to me, focus on different portions of the same Deity. Its like walking into a remodeled, older home. Certain rooms might have been purposely decorated to honor the time period when the house was originally built. Someone examining the 18th century mantel might be amazed at the attention to an earlier time period that the decorators showed, while a person who examined the modern kitchen might notice how up to date all the appliances were. Both people would have different views of the house and its owners but if neither one had seen the entire house, their views wouldn't be right or wrong, just incomplete.

Maybe it isn't the best analogy. LOL

I LOVE this anology... Wow very profound.. ( you gave me chills) And as Neil Donald Walsh would say " Truth comes with Goosebumps"

I like that analogy as well!! Same house, but different view points and appreciations. I think you hit the nail on the head!

 

[WhiteWingedDove]

I agree; you do not need a religion to teach you good and evil or a person telling you what to do. I have friends who are Atheists who are some of the kindest people I know.

My grandmother grew up without ANY religion. She had no idea what Christianity was, not to mention Paganism. Religion was simply not a topic in their home. I do remember many years ago when I was very young we were driving down the road, we passed this large, straight, beautiful pine tree; with the top completely missing.

She told me that when she was a little girl that her family was extremely poor, their parents barely had enough money to even feed them.
They did, however celebrate the typical 'christmas', but it had no religion behind it. They passed the few presents they had and they had a tree. This one year however, they could not afford a tree. Her dad badly wanted the kids to have a tree to decorate. One night they all went out and found this small pine tree growing off the side the road on someone else's property and they cut it down. I remember my grandmother telling me that even though her family was happy to get a tree, the somehow, deep inside her, she knew that for some reason it was wrong.

And you can compare that tree to a person; even though part of it was missing and taken away; it still continues to grow straight and tall and magnificent; with another pine tree next to it. I think; no matter someone's religion or lack of, people are born with decency and can do good, and find happiness. It makes me sad that people say otherwise and force beliefs on judgment on others.. Life should not be about converting others and making them see your point of view. It should be about finding your own happiness...

So yes, I believe "People are born with all the potential skills they need to make moral and ethical judgments."

That said; I also (personally) believe the universe and dieties are always around and can guide you to do the right things and be a good person.

(I might say, that my grandmother eventually married, was converted, and became Christian, with most of her family following, however, had there been Pagan beliefs around and available to learn from - who knows.

 

[Organics North]

I too agree with this statement:
"People are born with all the potential skills they need to make moral and ethical judgments."
Nore can I comprehend the idea of original sin.

In the study of Christ, I find the lost scrolls highly interesting. I am also interested in the writings of the his apostles that did not make it into the bible. I believe one can find greater support for the concept that the "gift" is already in us by reading about Christ's lost years in India and Tibet.
ON